The ministry said Saturday that security forces carried out a three-day operation around the port city of Trincomalee using artillery and mortars. It said the military had to carry out the operation because Tamil rebels were targeting military camps in the area.

No casualties were reported.

A Norway-brokered truce signed five years ago collapsed on Thursday when the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam announced they would resume their struggle for an independent homeland.

European truce monitors say in the past 15 months almost 4,000 people have died in fighting between Tamil separatists and the government. More than 67,000 people have died since fighting broke out in 1983.